Pile-driving attachment



Nov. 4, 1952 c. L. GUILD 2,616,257

FILE-DRIVING ATTACHMENT Filed on. s, 1946 2 SI-lEETS-Sl-1EET 1 Nov. 4, 1952 c. L. GUILD FILE-DRIVING ATTACHMENT 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed Oct. 8, 1946 Patented Nov. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,616,267 FILE-DRIVING ATTACHMENT Charles L. Guild, East Providence, R. I.

Application October 8, 1946, Serial No. 702,003

8 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in pile driving attachments for crane booms. In driving piles, it has been customary in the art to provide two spaced bars commonly called leads which are vertically arranged on opposite sides of the pile to be driven, so that the drop hammer may be vertically reciprocated thereon to drive the pile. In the prior art, in most instances these leads have been rigidly mounted on the end of the crane boom which means that in use the weight of the leads and hammer must be supported by the crane boom unless it is possible to lower the boom the exact distance to the ground.

Very often in usage, however, it is impossible to move the leads to a position directly above where the pile is to be driven and it is to this particular circumstance that my invention is particularly designed.

To make iteasy to mount the leads anywhere on the ground despite any irregular terrain I universally mount a box-like guiding structure on the upper end of the boom having vertical holes therein for the upper ends of the leads so that the leads may be raised and lowered vertically in the box-like structure thereby making it possible to mount the leads on any type of terrain by initially raising the leads enough off the ground to permit them to be brought into position and then lowering the leads so that the lower ends thereof may rest on the ground and take the weight of the leads off the crane boom.

An object of my invention, therefore, is to provide asimple attachment for pile driverswhi'ch will permit the driving of piles on any type of an irregular. terrain. and prevent any obstacle encounteredon the approach preventing the driving of the pile.

A further object of my invention is to provide a simple attachment for this purpose constructed of a minimum number of small simple parts with adequate bearing surfaces.

A further object of my invention is to provide means to universally mount said box-like member on the end of the crane boom so that it may be tilted in a vertical plane forwardly and backwardly, substantially in line with the vertical crane of the boomor in a plane normal thereto so that it may be swayed laterally relative to the top of the boom and, if desired, held in these positions so as to drive a pile obliquely.

In the prior artwhen the pile was driven in so deeply that the top thereof approached the lower ends of the leads held in a vertical position above the ground, it was often necessary to insert a follower ile on top of the pile being driven so that the follower pile could be hit with the hammer guided in its reciprocating movements by the leads.

An object of my invention, therefore, is to provide a structure which entirely eliminates the necessity of use of such a follower pile.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device which may be sold solely as an attachment for use with present day crane booms and their present type of leads without changing the leads or the boom, by merely mounting my improved attachment in between them.

These and such other objects of my invention as may hereinafter appear will be best understood from a description of the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is front elevation of a a crane having a boom with my invention attached to vertically mount the usual leads carrying the hammer for driving the pile shown therein in full lines in a substantially vertical position, showing in dotted lines how my improved attachment may permit the leads to tilt laterally while they are raised for this purpose to permit their insertion over the irregular terrain shown therein.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the caterpillar crane boom and leads shown in Fig. 1 with my invention attached, showing how the leads may tilt forwardly and backwardly in the vertical plane of the crane boom.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevation of my improved lead guiding box.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view therethrough taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, partially shown in elevation, of the tilting bracket I preferably employ showing the trunnion I preferably employ for mounting the box of my invention thereon.

My invention is adapted to be used with any type of a crane boom. While a crane boom 16 may be mounted on any desired type of support, movable or otherwise, such as a flat car, boat, etc., I have illustrated it in the drawings as being mounted on the front end of a caterpillar tractor crane M. The crane body [6 is rotatable on its frame l8 which has the caterpillar treads 26 mounted as usual on each side thereof. The crane boom [0 has its lower end pivoted as at 22 on the front end of the crane body. A suitable motor (not shown) is mounted on the cab 24, which actuates the rope 26 for raisin and lowering the crane boom ID, the rope 28 which may be used for raising the leads 30 as shown in 3 Fig. 2 or the pile 32 as shown in Fig. 1 and the rope 34 for raising and lowering the hammer 35, the ropes 28 and 34 passing over the sheaves 38 and ll] of the double sheave pulley 52 on the upper end of the crane.

The usual leads 30 comprise two spaced bars spaced apart slightly less than the thickness of the hammer 35 adapted to receive the grooves 43 in eachside of the hammer 36 so that the hammer maybe-raisedwon'; the leads and permitted to drop downwardly thereon against the top of the pile 32 being driven. The leads are connected together at a desired spaced distance by the rear- Wardly extending U-shaped brackets lirspacetl at intervals on the lower portions of the leads 30 and, if desired, the rear ends-of'-'said brackets 44 may have the ladder lfipmoun-ted:thereointo extend part way up the leads. With my invention, however, I provide a substantial dist-anceof said leads free of any attaching brackets near the upper :end thereof .s H iIh ZSPaCEfiJEad 39 :may be freeto slide in :the verticalholesgabout to be described.

,So much of the structurerhitherto descri,be d is common in crane gboomssof "the :prior; art. The said crane booms;-have usuallychad the i leads-30 rigidly mounted on 'theupper ends-4'8 of ,said cranebooms. As state,d,'.Ii believe I-a-m-- the first to provide a novel attachment to v-universally -mount the leads on the upper-end yOf the crane boomso that the upperends thereof maybe able to slide vertically in.--said %mounting :means to permit the vertical raising (of the-leads over any obstacles-encountered .-inbring-infg :the-piledriver in position and; yetpennitting the pile driver to drop to the ground'in the desired' positionon its supporting shoes 50 cwhich, may acomprise sledlike runners extending forwardly and .rearwardly from the lowerends; of the; leads. ":For-"this :pur-

pose, I preferably proyidera -pivota1sm0untin -n th o *of the crane above-the she u11ev-42 -,.for -pivota1ly mount ing;a bracket ;:58 ;to pivot .forwar lyaand b ckwardlyrin, he-,ver icahplane of thecrane boom, Zand-I al-so,--provide 'azboxelike ;;structure 12 ,having vertical-holes;sflqtherein for receiving the upper ends 52 of said leads-,so that they may be .free?to slide vertically in zsaid' -boxlike structure '72 relative .to xthet, upper, end 4810f rsaid crane boom, and so gpivotal-lysmountsaid box-like structure.-.7-2 ,ousaidbmcket 58:that r-the ,5

box-like structure 72 may sway -laterally :in La yertical planesnormaleto ithQRlMQflteWhiQh'jthe bracket tilts on the uppeu-end ofzthe. boom therebur -Providin restru ture. .hrch'will tiit inn-tw pl nes atriehtanslestdeach; tyne ;of..u-niversa1;-i0in ,While this ,bracket and box, forming-mart of myinvention, may be,constructed-many, suitable manner, in my, preferred embodiment ,I preferably construct them as follows: I,.-provide.,the spaced plates 54 which are .eitherwelded, bolted,

or otherwisesecuredelto eachside of .the upper .endf48 of. theboommlfl, and I provide .these plates with vthe aligned lbearing, holes 55 .therein, the

.double sheavepulleys l 2, being mounted below said platesin the mannenhitherto described. ,1 .pro-

.vide .a .pivot'bracket.58. having1a front platefifl preferably ,having a bearing .well. .52 .centrally thereof havingacentralholelfis, and sidewalls 66 extending rearwardly from .said .front ,plate within said side plates I54. also .having aligned bearingholestt therein aligned with'the holes 56 in said 'boomside plates "58 and I provide a strgng ,pivot pin ll] ...exten1dine ithrough .said ali ned. holes fifilandlfifl .to,pivotally..maunt. said qthersatwellrknown b bracket 58 on said plates 54 whereby said bracket 58 may tilt on said boom end substantially in the vertical plane of said boom.

I also provide what I call a guide box 12 having a front wall 14 and a rear wall 76 joined together at spaced distances preferably by the side walls 18 and having the vertical holes 80 therein for the insertion of the upper ends 52 of said leads therein. The front and rear walls 14 and 16 must l0 .l-beof sufii'cient area toioonfindthezupper ends 52 of said "leads laterally "adjacent said 'holes 80 although, if desired, other portions of the box may be left open or comprise merely connecting :straps:and;the end walls 78, if desired, may. also comprise mere connecting straps. The guide box :TLQtherefOra'Fhas an open top and bottom, at ..leashadiacentsaidholes $0, and I provide vertically aligned means 82 on the front and rear of eachfhole on the top and bottom portions of the box 12 to provide the holes 80 and guides for the verticalmovements.of,the upper-ends 52' of said .leads fit in said holesBfi. While; said ,means82 maycompr-ise mere pins, in my preferred. embodiment I-preferablyemploy the rollers .84 suitably mounted onsuitable. pins 82 :for the free movement of the upper ends 52 of said leads, which, as I'have shown in Fig. 3, may be constructedof steel, and, asshown, thesteel H-section I-beams. I may, if desired, provide a trunnion .86v of sub- .30 stantially the sizeofsaidbracketwellfiZ projecting vertically. from the rear wall 16 of said box -74 to rotate :in said ;well 52 and Iprovide the aligned holes-B8, 98 and 92 in thefront wall 14, back wa1l-16 and trunnionv 86 aligned with the .35 central-hole Be insaidfront plate well 62 for the insertion .of a suitable pivot bolt .Bttherein, preferably fromthe rear forwardlyand having ,a suitable nut 96 on the free front. end ,thereof to pivotally mount ,said ,box 12,,..0n..said. bracket 58 .40 so ,that it ,may oscillateor. swivel .a vertical plane :normal .to the plane which...thepbracket ,tilts onvthe .boomto providea mounting for said .box.

.It is -thus .apparent thatlLhaYe ,provided la mounting .means,..including a. boxlike member, preferably of rectangular. shapehaving vertical .holesv 80 therein for vthe sliding of the upperends .52 of the leads...30 .thereinlpivotally..mountedon .theupperendofthelcrane,boommembersothat i it.-. may tilt I in evertical, planes \normal .to .each

other and hence universally.

I practice,,.a.ehain v-this.usual,1y mounted o .endloiltheeableezs landj priorl.to-brinQrggthe dcrane -carrlaee. .ortcaternillaraadiaeent the ;:spot 111011130 whichlitdsvdesiredto ldrirelthe pilezas around one of the brackets on the leadsiw-and the leads 30 raisedup the..desired distance'from the ground to, permit them to overlie the support 0 .lllll'when the cable 28 carrying thechain 98 may be 'loweredto allowthe"shoes" .of the". leads to rest on each side of thespotlllfl.on'the;ground as shown in'FigJl it is desiredto :drive. the pile. The. chain98 may then be zwrapped around the pi1e232 andithe pile'fiz broughtj in ,the desired .vertical position above the ,spot A H30. :Thei hammer 36 isthen allowed'to'drombeingmanipulated by .the A cable great first smalllamouritsruntiLthe :pile32QisIfirnily,setgin,the ground and .then the desired pile drivin :amounts. to,drive.the p.ile:to the desireddepth. .It-ris uuitelobvious thatwith .the,leads.30;raised.uplthatthelcaterpillar4:4,may

. beldrivencloseenoughtorthe,spot ,.l,(l0. despite.any ,irregularities ;in., the terraincsuch asthmslieht desired to drive the pile at an oblique angle, the leads 3!] may be left in any of the oblique forward or backward positions shown in Fig. 2 or oblique lateral positions shown in Fig. 1. In case it be desired to drive the pile deeply in a hole, the shoes 50 may be mounted in the hole I06 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. It is apparent that when the pile is driven the leads may again be raised by means of the cable 28 so that the boom and leads may be readily removed over the irregular terrain away from the mounds or other obstacles.

It is apparent that I have shown strong pivotal structures which will last without any particular lubricant protection and that the trunnion revolving within the well 62 provides a particularly strong structure for the tilting movement.

In my invention the weight of the leads is entirely supported on the shoes 50 at all times. As the hammer drops it has no Weight, when it rests on the upper end of the pile 32, its weight is on the pile, but as it is raised up the weight of the hammer comes on the pulley 40- on the end of the boom, the weight of the hammer therefore also not being on the end of the boom at all times.

It is apparent, therefore, that I have provided a novel type of attachment which may be readily attached to crane booms without any substantial modification thereof and without any substantial modification of existing leads to provide a strong structure which may be used on all types of terrain to bring the crane boom adjacent the pile to the driven and one which eliminates the use of follower piles and has the other advantages heretofore described. In the claims I employ the words guide box to indicate any suitable structure capable of achieving the above purposes even though it has portions of its walls in skele ton form.

It is understood that myinvention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown and that various deviations thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A pile driving attachment, comprising spaced plates connectable to project upwardly from each side of the upper end of a crane boom, having aligned bearing holes therein and a double sheave pulley mounted thereon below said bearing holes, a pivot bracket having a front plate having a bearing well therein having a central hole and side walls extending rearwardly from said front plate having aligned bearing holes therein aligned with the aligned holes in said boom side plates, a pivot pin extending through said holes to pivotally mount said bracket on said plates, whereby said bracket may tilt substantially in the vertical plane of said boom, a rectangular guide box having an open top and bottom and vertically spaced lead guide rollers mounted adjacent the top and bottom of each side thereof, a trunnion of the size of said bracket well projecting vertically from the rear wall thereof and aligned holes extending centrally through said trunnion and box front and rear walls, and a bolt extending through said holes in said bracket and box having a nut on. the free end thereof to pivotally mount said box on said bracket so that it may oscillate in a vertical plane normal to the plane in which it tilts on the boom to provide a mounting for said box, spaced hammer leads having upper ends vertically movable up and down between said rollers and supporting shoes on the lower ends thereof,

ladder brackets projecting rearwardly at spaced distances downwardly from said vertically adjustable upper ends and a ladder mounted thereon to also keep said leads at the desired spaced distance, a drop hammer guided in its vertical movement by said leads, a cable passing over one of the sheaves in said pulley for raising and lowering the drop hammer and a cable passing over the other sheave of the pulley for selectively raising and lowering the upper ends of said leads in said box or bringing a pile into position.

2.. A pile driving attachment, comprising spaced plates connectable to project upwardly from each side of the upper end of a crane boom, having aligned bearing holes therein and a double sheave pulley mounted thereon below said bearing holes, a pivot bracket having a front plate and side walls extending rearwardly from said front plate having aligned bearing holes therein aligned with the aligned holes in said boom side plates, a pivot pin extending through said holes to pivotally mount said bracket onsaid plates, whereby said bracket may tilt substantial ly in the vertical plane of said boom, a guide box having vertically spaced holes therein and vertically spaced lead guide means mounted adjacent the top and bottom of each hole thereof, and aligned holes extending centrally through said box front and rear walls, and a bolt extending through said holes in said bracket and box having a nut on the free end thereof to pivotally mount said box on said bracket so that it may oscillate in a vertical plane normal to the plane in which it tilts on the boom, spaced hammer leads having upper ends vertically movable up and down between said guide means and supporting shoes on the lower ends thereof, U- shapedbrackets projecting rearwardly at spaced distances downwardly from said vertically ad justable upper ends to keep said leads at the desired spaced distance, a drop hammer guided in its vertical movement by said leads, a cable passing over one of the sheaves in' said pulley for raising and lowering the drop hammer and a cable passing over the other sheave of the pulley for selectively raising and lowering the upper ends of said leads in said'box'or bringing a pile into position.

3. A pile driving attachm'ent, comprising spaced plates connectable to project upwardly from each side of the upper end of a crane boom, having aligned bearing holes therein, a pivot bracket having a front plate, having a bearing well therein having a central hole and side walls extending rearwardly from said front plate, having aligned bearing holes therein aligned with the aligned holes in said boom side plates, a pivot pin extending through said holes to pivotally mount said bracket on said plates, whereby said bracket may tilt substantially in the vertical plane of said boom, a rectangular guide box having an open top and bottom and vertically spaced lead guide rollers mounted adjacent the top and bottom of each side thereof, a trunnion of the size of said bracket well projecting vertically from the rear Wall thereof and aligned holes extending centrally through said trunnion and box front and rear walls, and a bolt extending through said holes in said bracket and box having a nut on the free end thereof to pivotally mount said box on said bracket so that it may oscillate in a vertical plane normal to the plane in which it tilts on the boom to provide a mounting for said box.

4. A pile driving attachment, comprising spaced plates connectable to project upwardly .imme ch s e of the' u per en o a cranenQQI-a. n ali n firearms ho es t e ei ;p .q uracketzhat n a-iiront plate and si e -.wa ls :exitendin trearwardlyiir m sa d frontpl erz rine a-ligned bearing 3110165 therein aligned with the aaligned holes :i i-Said boom side plates, 9a, pivot pin extending through .--said .holes "to ;pivot a11-y mount said bracket: on :Sfild ;plates, whereby-said bracket ;.may -:tilt -.-substa ntially in the vertical l-plane-of isaid jboo-m, "a guide box havin :spaced vertical ihOleS eand "vertically :spaced :lead :guide means-mounted adjacent the-top and bottom of *each -hole :thereof, :and zaligned 7110165 z'extendi-ng entrallr-through'saidaboxiront and rear Walls, andia lt zexte din hrou h sa ho-Le inasaid acket al d o hav ne a nut on the zfree en he eo zo -:p v tall :mounl-s :bQX on asaid lqracket'smthatit mayos illatesin azverticalplane normalstotthe planet in whichit tiltsontheboom.

oA.pile.drivin z ttac ment; om risin -ennui bracket pivotall imountable omthe upperend :o 3a -.or,ane boom to tilt forwardly and .baekwardly ;.substantial1yiin i-the :ver-tical plane-t of said .boon' ;having a horizontal -;bearing "well therein and a r uide :box :having :spaced vertical holes therein for receiving the :free upper ends ofespaced hammer :guiding leads ;for .free vertical movement thereof therein, having a trunnion projecting -.rearwardly' therefrom within said bearing Well, .zpivotally mounted on the :frontof :said i'DiVQt 'bracketisor thatsaid box; may oscillate gin avertiical; plane :normal I to the jqplane in -;W h-ich :iit .tilts :on .the boom. -:and :spaced .lead :euide ,rollers ;mounted in "said jbOX walls .on opposite sides :of saidfholes.

.6. A zpile .driving attachment scomprising .:a -pivot :bracket .pivotally :mountable :on zthezupper .end :of a crane-:boom i-tostilt,forwardlYandz-back- --ward'lyssubstantially1in theivertical planelof said :boom, having .:a horizontal :bearin'g =-well therein and 7a ';guide 'sbox ehavin'g :spaced :vertical :holes f therein for :receiving sthe *f-ree upper :ends of spaced bhanmier guiding Pleads .for -:iree vertical :movement thereof ltherein, ;:having :a trunnion iprojecting- :rearwardly @therefrom within :said bearing well, spivota'l'ly mounted on :the ifront of said;pivot bracketrsoithat saidiboxmay oscillate in a vertical plane normal torthe gplanexin-which iit-tilts'on theboom.

17.;A ;;pile .;driving attachment comprising :a pivot bracket pivotallymountable on the upper end-of a craneboom to tilt forwardly and back-- wardlysubstantially in the vertical-plane of said boom, and a guide box having spaced vertical holes' therein for receiving the free uppe ends .sofspaced hammer guiding leads for free vertical movement thereof therein, pivotally mounted on -the .front ofsaidpivot bracket so that said box may oscillate in a vertical plane normal to the plane inwhich it tilts on the b00m, and spaced lead guide rollers mounted in said box wallson oppositesides of'said holes.

58. A pile driving attachment, comprising a .;U-shaped bracket. having side plates and afront plate,.said-, side plates having aligned pivot pin ,openingsand said front plate havinga pivot bolt opening, a pivot-'pinin said aligned pin .opening adapted to be mounted transversely in the upper .endof a crane boom, whereby a pivotal mountingior the bracket is provided for tilting the bracket forwardly and backwardly in the vertical plane of the boorrnanda hollow guidebox having a front wall, .a, rear wall, and side walls, said .front and rear walls having centrally positioned aligned bolt openings, a pivot bolt extending through said "bracket bolt .openings and .said front plate opening, said pivot bolt connecting saidguide box tothe bracket, whereby the guide box is pivotally secured tosaid bracket to oscillate in a vertical plane normal to the plane of movement of the bracket, :said rear and front walls having two upper and two lower spaced guide pins in vertical alignment adjacent each side wall the space between said guide pinsbeing of a Width to slidably receive hammer guiding leads.

CHARLES L. vGUILD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES ,PA'I'ENTS Number Name Date 1,613,409 Pierce Jan. 4, 1927 1 ,846,973 'Lanier Feb. 23, 1932 2,014,631 ,Pace, Sept. 1'7, 1935 "2,096,943 Templeton Oct. 26,1937 

